ARTS & LIFESTYLE

From the first note, ATROVAN delivers. Mikal Crist, lead vocalist and guitarist, commands the stage with a blend of energy and tenderness, and a flair for fashion that matches the music’s vibrancy. He draws the audience in effortlessly, leading both quiet moments and high-energy peaks.

There are songs you go looking for. And then there are songs that find you anyway. Jason Mraz’s latest release, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” landed in my feed last week ahead of his upcoming album Grandma’s Gospel Favorites (out May 8). I almost didn’t press play.

I have just returned home after seeing "Project Hail Mary" and I have thoughts. This is going to be a spoiler free review, so you have no worries reading ahead. I will not give away anything. First and foremost, I loved every single second of this movie. I was moved, I laughed, I got nervous, I was rooting for random stuff to happen and my attention never wavered, not even once. I was totally blown away by this and I could have watched another two and a half hours and been as

Best-selling biographer Walter Isaacson’s The Greatest Sentence Ever Written  is a concise, 80-page celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The book dissects what Isaacson calls the Declaration of Independence’s most powerful line: “ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness .”   Isaacson analyzes the senten

I've been a Billy Strings fan for a while. I missed a couple of his small local shows early on in his career and my friends 'in the know' gave me a bunch of heck...because this guy was the new phenomenon. Such talent and so different. So, the next time he was coming near, I got tickets.

When The New WKRP in Cincinnati  hit TV screens in the early ’90s, the reboot of the classic sitcom added a few new faces to the newsroom — and one of them carried a name that caught our attention right here in Ohio: Mona Loveland. Played by actress Tawny Kitaen, Mona Loveland was the station’s confident, camera‑friendly DJ — a modern twist for a show that had been a staple of late‑’70s television. Her character’s last name wasn’t chosen by accident. Writers of The New WKRP ,

Project Hail Mary is currently showing in theaters in the Loveland Area. This is not going to be a traditional movie review for the new film Project Hail Mary. The plot of the movie revolves around a scientist, light years away from Earth, trying to figure out how to stop our Sun from dying. It sounds like a depressing film, it is actually quite hopeful, funny, and emotionally moving. The movie also has something very welcome for today's audiences to see and feel. Project Hai

Oh, the memories. I’m not sure how I found Richie Havens’ music. I just remember having the CD Résumé  in college at Bowling Green State University, listening to it over and over again. I can still see it: lying in my small second-story bedroom off campus, looking out at the streets below, lost in sound and thought. Those were days of deep reflection — not fearful, just uncertain — trying to understand who I was and what I was meant to do. During that time, Follow  by Richie

For a city that proudly calls itself “The Sweetheart of Ohio,” Loveland has made its way into plenty of postcards, wedding stories, and regional headlines over the years. But what about pop culture’s most iconic animated universe? Has Loveland ever made it into  The Simpsons ? It turns out the answer is: yes— and more than once . A Quick Shoutout from Marge In the 11th season finale episode  “Behind the Laughter,”  a parody of the VH1 series  Behind the Music , the Simpson fa

If you’ve read my Friday Listens before, you know I’m usually highlighting one song. This week is different. Today I’m talking about an entire album — the brand-new release Mutiny After Midnight, out today, Friday March 13.

"One Battle After Another" is nominated for 13 Oscars and is the front runner to win Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. "One Battle After Another" is currently streaming on HBO Max. I am a Paul Thomas Anderson fan. I have seen pretty much all of his movies to this point. I have not watched "Phantom Thread", "Licorice Pizza" or "Hard Eight". Every other movie of his, I can check off my list, and "There Will Be Blood" is my favorite of his, and one of my

Every once in a while a band comes along that feels bigger than just the music. The Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap is one of those groups. Their newest single, Liar’s Tale, is an early release from their upcoming album Fenian, which drops April 24. Like much of their catalog, the track hits hard both musically and lyrically—blending raw energy with cultural identity and political commentary.

"If I Had Legs I'd Kick You" is up for Best Actress at the 2026 Academy Awards for Rose Byrne's much talked about performance. The movie is currently streaming on HBO MAX I finally watched "If I Had Legs I'd Kick You". I have wanted to see this movie ever since Rose Bryne started to get all the accolades and nominations. That is literally the only way I heard about the movie to be honest with you. I had no idea that this was even a thing until the recognition started. I went

This song is a diagnosis. A look in the mirror.

Being organized during your career search is just as important as building your résumé and feeling confident in an interview. Organization is not optional. It is a strategy.

"GOAT" is currently playing at theaters in the Loveland area My kids had school off yesterday and my son has been asking to go see the new animated movie "GOAT". He was asking my folks to take him, but they didn't have the time. With my daughter being homebound since she is sick, my son and I were stir crazy, so I decided that was the perfect time to take him. I did not know a lot about the movie, but one of my older brother's did tell me that he thought my son would enjoy it

That’s why I keep returning to this book. And why the creation is on my arm—not as a badge of grievance, but as a reminder to stay kind, stay steady, and try, as Shelley wrote, to live in a way that makes others happy too. To remember to take the High Road as much as I can.

There are songs you admire. There are songs you play a lot. And then there are songs that quietly become part of your family’s story. For me, that song is “Hearts Content” by Brandi Carlile.

The Loveland Shorts Film Festival (LSFF) is now accepting entries for its 2026 Poster Competition, and local artists are invited to submit original designs for a chance to be featured as the face of the festival.

For Cincinnati fans—and really anyone who believes sports can change lives—it sounds like a story worth seeing.

If this song finds you where you are, know that you’re not alone. Love is complicated.

The entire first season of The Chair Company is streaming on HBOMax. I watched the season finale of "The Chair Company" recently and I want to say a few things about the first season of this show. This review will be spoiler free. I am not going to divulge any big news because I feel like what Zach Kanin and Tim Robinson achieved with this should be watched by anyone who is a fan of their work. I was predestined to like this new show of theirs, and it wildly exceeded my expec

"Weapons" is nominated at the 2026 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress recognizing Amy Madigan's iconic performance as Aunt Gladys. "Weapons" is currently streaming on HBOMax. I absolutely loved this movie. I will be as spoiler free as possible moving forward by the way. The story of the movie is as follows, 17 kids from one single classroom all leave their houses at 2:17am and "never come back". The movie then tells the story of the aftermath from different perspect

Like the last book I discussed, Ishmael, this book is also a reread. And like the other one—and much to the theme of this book itself—I think this reread happened at an appropriate time in my life. It allowed me to reflect and take a good look at myself at a time where I probably needed a refresher.

Most of my Friday Listen choices lately have been pretty mellow, so this week I’m shifting things just a bit. “The Light” by David Gray still has plenty of reflection in it, but it’s more upbeat—and that actually makes it a great winter song.

Show dates: 2/6 & 2/7 @ 7pm Tickets: http://www.Loveland stage company.org/tickets

This past summer, I reread Ishmael by Daniel Quinn for the third time- this time with my daughter, Anna. Not many books get that kind of repeat attention, and even fewer manage to hit differently each time. Ishmael does. Every time I return to it, it feels less like rereading a book and more like picking up a conversation I’m not quite finished having- or need to refresh.

"Frankenstein" is nominated for multiple Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Jacobi Elordi's portrayal of the Creature. "Frankenstein" is currently streaming on Netflix. After three sit downs, I finished Guillermo Del Toro's "Frankenstein" yesterday. Let’s discuss. Right off the bat, I loved it. It was melodramatic in all the right ways. The movie looked beautiful. I wish I had seen it on the big screen, but my television at home was just fine.

The Friday Listen is a simple, weekly reflection on music that’s been sticking with me — songs worth sitting with, revisiting, or hearing a little more closely.

Loveland takes its role as the Sweetheart of Ohio  very seriously and, as such, we take the season of love and all things Valentine, very seriously. And why wouldn’t we? What community is more uniquely qualified to celebrate Amore  than LOVEland? This is our season in the sun! The big show. And we proudly own it.   With February upon us, the good people of Loveland are ready to celebrate! Our beloved Valentine Ladies are already out in the community sharing love and doing goo

"Sinners" just broke the record for Oscar nominations with 16 including nods for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role. "Sinners" is currently streaming on HBO Max I loved everything about "Sinners". The movie was stylish and cool. I liked the old school vibe of the movie. “Sinners” takes place in the early 1930's in Mississippi. Michael B Jordan plays dual roles, and from the moment he was on screen, t

by Mike Meldon The Friday Listen is a simple, weekly reflection on music that’s been sticking with me — songs worth sitting with, revisiting, or hearing a little more closely. This week’s pick isn’t new. But it feels necessary . A Song That Still Speaks Stevie Wonder’s “Heaven Help Us All”  feels less like entertainment and more like a plea — a moment of collective honesty spoken out loud. Just this week, for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day , I shared his reminder that people

On August 1st, 1981, American pop culture was forever changed. At 12:01 am people with cable tuned in to a new channel, saw a rocket launch and then heard the words "Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll", this was followed by the now iconic Buggles music video "Video Killed The Radio Star". Music Television, later branded MTV, was born. The early days of MTV are now iconic. Music videos, cool hip Video Jockeys (VJs) guiding us through the day and night, and news just about the

Loveland City Hall is currently showcasing the work of local watercolor artist Joy Osborne, a longtime Loveland resident whose detailed architectural and landscape paintings are earning fresh attention through a new public exhibit. Osborne’s exhibit features approximately thirty original watercolor pieces, all of which are available for purchase. At the conclusion of the show, Osborne will also raffle off one of her original paintings, with proceeds benefiting Loveland’s LIFE

From AI to networking, today’s hiring process looks nothing like it did even a few years ago. A local HR consultant explains what job seekers should do differently. By Jodi Brandstetter It’s a new year, so why not consider a new career? A recent LinkedIn survey showed that more than 50% of professionals are actively looking for a new role this year. If you haven’t been in the job market recently, you may be surprised by just how different the experience has become. Applying t

The Friday Listen is a simple, weekly reflection on music that’s been sticking with me — songs worth sitting with, revisiting, or hearing a little more closely.

Mel Robbins’ best-selling self-help book, The Let Them Theory , has clearly struck a nerve. After selling more than seven million copies and topping The New York Times, Amazon, and Audible lists in 2025, it’s safe to say the message resonates with a wide audience. The core message from Robbins is that much of our stress comes from managing others’ reactions, expectations, and approval. When we “let them” think, feel, and act as they choose, we free ourselves to make decisions

Marty Supreme  is currently playing in theaters around the Loveland Ohio area. I was predestined to like this movie. I have become a pretty big fan of Timothee Chalamet in the past few years, ever since I saw him in "Wonka", and I like what the Safdie brothers do as far as directing. And I fully understand that this was a solo directing job from Josh Safdie, which I am all in for at this point. Josh Safdie has always felt like more of a director than his brother Benny. I feel

The Pickle Mill, created by owners Josh Heller and Ted Dahmus, is a private, reservation-only pickleball facility designed to give players full control over their experience. Instead of crowded courts and waiting your turn, players reserve the space, show up, and play.

Zanna, Don't! runs Jan. 16th. - Jan 25th. Tickets are $20 http://www.lovelandstagecompany.org/tickets